A state-of-the art hospital that was funded and built under the controversial private finance initiative (PFI) has been criticised in a damning report which revealed major concerns over hygiene and cleanliness.
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, one of the country’s newest hospitals, was found to have dirty toilets, dusty floors and badly stained walls, while staff failed to wash their hands prior to patient contact.
The report from the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) also revealed there was “poor cleanliness” of some patient equipment such as intravenous stands and emergency crash trolleys.
Inspectors looked at nine wards and just five were found to be clean.
The document, published yesterday, follows concerns about cleaning services being carried out by private firms, as is the case at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Unions and Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon have previously called on NHS boards to bring cleaning back in-house as part of moves to tackle hospital acquired infections.
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie called for “urgent action”.
She said: “This damning report demands urgent action. The SNP promised to make tackling hospital acquired infections a top priority, but time and time again hospitals are failing to reach the high standards of cleanliness we demand.
“It is simply not good enough that four out of nine wards were found to be dirty and it is all the more surprising at this state-of-the-art hospital.
“Patients and their families have a right to know that when they go into hospital, they will be treated in clean, safe conditions.”
The PFI deal for Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, with Consort Healthcare, has been the subject of considerable scrutiny since it was signed. The project cost £184 million but within six months of the official opening in May 2003, Edinburgh City Council had launched an inquiry covering financial issues, bed shortages and power cuts.
Over-heating on the wards during the summer was regularly reported and the site at Little France has previously received poor ratings on cleanliness.
HEI inspectors visited the hospital unannounced on August 18 and observed some medical staff in one ward failing to wash their hands.
The report said: “This included when entering the ward and when having contact with the patient and their environment.”
Inspectors also found toilets in some wards to be dirty.
Sandra Mair, deputy chief operating officer for university hospitals division at NHS Lothian, said: “We recognise there were areas where the inspectors feel we need to improve, and we are already working on a detailed action plan to address these issues.”
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